MEDITATION (DHYANA)

DHYANA (Meditation) is not mere sitting erect and silent. Nor is it the absence of any movement. It is the merging of all your thoughts and feelings in God. Without the mind becoming dissolved in God, meditation cannot succeed. GITA describes genuine DHYANA as “ The persons who adore Me, without any other thought or feelings”. Krishna has assured such persons that He would Himself carry their burden and be by their side, guiding and guarding.

Sathys Sai Speaks X p 248

Man is divine. He can purify himself into perfect divinity by the process of DHYANA, taken up with eagerness and followed with faith by virtuous individuals.

Sathys Sai Speaks 6, p.239

DHYANA is the discipline by which the mind is trained to inner analysis and synthesis. Again, DHYANA and the control of the sense must go together. The senses block road to heaven’s gate. YOGA is defines as the mastery over the wandering of the mind. The very first lesson of YOGA is conquest of Desire. The mother has to put the child to sleep as the first chore so that she can attend to more important work. So too, you have to put the mind out of action, before you can travel to the realm beyond duality.

Keep the name of the Lord always radiant on your tongue, and mind. That will keep the antics of mind under control.

SADHANA - The Inward Path, p 138

In DHYANA, mind, intellect and various senses are transcended by means of self-control. All dualities, dichotomics, differences and relatives disappear in the superconscious state of DHYANA. DHYANA is synonymous with the unitive knowledge of the Godhead. It leads to SAT-CHIT-ANANDA or integral reality of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss. It grants everlasting Bliss, and confers the bliss of the ATMA(soul). It helps man attain PARAMANANDA or supreme bliss, and, or the bliss of non-duality.

Summer Showers 1979,p 101

There are three direct roads to Godhead. The first consists in the performance of all actions in a spirit of dedication to God for His pleasure; the second, in the renunciation of the desire for the fruits of action; and the third, in the identification of oneself with God through the process of DHYANA. Dedication of all actions to God confers wisdom on the doer. Renunciation of the desire for the fruits of action bestows mental tranquillity. DHYANA too ensures inner peace.

DHYANA can be practised by all-the old, the young, the wise, the healthy, and the weak. For those who do not possess the necessary physical and mental abilities to do DHYANA, the cultivation of universal of love would be as efficacious as DHYANA.

Summer Showers 1979 ,p 90

For meditation to be effective, there must be steady practice with no hurry or worry. With steady practice, the person will become quiet and the state of meditation will naturally comes about.

Conversations, p.139

DHYANA is the seventh in the series of steps, leading to the eight SMADHI or conquest of mind. First step is the control of the senses, the second is the control of the emotions and impulses. The third is the mastery of balance and equipoise; the next is the regulation of breathing and movement of vital airs; the fifth is the prevention of outer influences from deviating the mind; the next is the one pointed attention on one’s own progress; and then, we come to real DHYANA or meditation on one’s real Reality, which easily leads to its realisation in SAMADI. Without the preliminary rungs, you cannot hop straight on to the seventh! And then, skip on to the eighth!.

SADHANA - The Inward Path, p 140

1. What is the purpose of meditation?

The purpose of DHAYANA is to unite the JIVA (man) with ISWARA(God).

Summer Showers 1979 ,p 84

2. What is concentration?, What is contemplation? What is meditation?

Concentration means, when all senses and desires fall away and there is only God.

Concentration is already in force wherever mind, intelligence, and senses are used. Without it you could not even walk. It needs no special practice. It is below the senses. Meditation is above the senses.

In between concentration and meditation, like a separation between the two, is contemplation. Concentration to contemplation, then meditation. As long as one thinks ‘I am meditating’ that is the mind and is not meditation. As long as one knows he is meditating, he is not meditating. In that absorption in God, one puts aside every form and merges into God. In that process the mind naturally stops.

Real meditation is getting absorbed in God as the only thought, the only goal. God only, only God. Thing God, breath God, love God.

Conversations, p.175

Meditation will be more meaningful if desires are curtailed. Less luggage more comfort make travel a pleasure; fewer desires make the journey of life easier and happier.

Summer Showers 1979 ,p 84

3. Can anyone train another in meditation? Or claim to train?

It may be possible to teach a person the posture, the pose, the position of legs, feet or hands, neck, head or back, the style of breathing or its speed. But the meditation is a function of the inner man; it motivates deep subjective quit, the employing of the mind & filling oneself with the light that emerges from the divine spark within. This the discipline that no text-book can teach and no class can communicate.

4. How can we recognise progress?

Do you love more, do you talk less, do you serve others more earnestly? These are the signs of success in DHYANA. You progress must be authenticated by your character and behaviour.

Sathys Sai Speaks 7, p.30

5. Can you get benefit from meditation in the absence of comprehensive SATWIC food consumed by five senses?

The spiritual technique of DHYANA mentioned in BHAGAVAD GITA can not be beneficial in the absence of comprehensive SATWIC food which should feed the entire body with SATWIC sights, sounds, smells, and tactile sensations. Otherwise it becomes a mere pose.

Limited food and SATWIC food are essential for spiritual progress. Such food should give satisfaction to all sensory organs.

Summer Showers 1979,p 95

6. What are the benefits of meditation?

Control constant wavering of the mind.

It enables us to hear divine voice in our heart.

It helps us to discover inner identity.

Man is divine. He can purify himself into perfect divinity by the process of DHYANA, taken up with eagerness and followed with faith by virtuous individuals.

Sathys Sai Speaks 6, p.239